Sally Barkow
Women’s Match Racing and Olympian
Sally Barkow grew up in a family that counts five generations of sailors. She started sailing prams when she was 5 years old; by age 10, she was steering an X-boat, a popular youth training boat in the Midwest. There has not been one single mentor in her sailing career, but many. "When I was growing up, I looked to my brothers as mentors when it came to winning and understanding the commitment it takes to win in sailing. Now, I try to take a little piece of what I admire about everyone I meet or read about and incorporate that into my drive for the future."
She is a three time collegiate All-American who graduated from Old Dominion University '02 with a BS in Psychology. She twice earned ICSA All-American honors (2001 and 2002), and helped ODU win the 2002 ICSA North American Women's Championship for the third time in the school's history. After college, Sally decided to pursue her Olympic dream, racing in the Yngling class. Sally and her team went onto win the 2003 Women's Rolex Championships, the 2004 Women's Match Race World Championship, and competed in the 2007 Olympics.
Sally has served as Helmsman for teams in match sailing venues around the globe and was the Winner of the prestigious Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year award in 2005. As the selection panel's unanimous choice, she was
SIGNIFICANT SAILING ACHIEVEMENTS
USA Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year 2005, 2007
ICSA Women's All-American 2002
Three-time winner Skipper - US Sailing Rolex International
Women's Keelboat Championships – 2003, 2004, 2007
Ranked #1 on the US Sailing Team, Yngling Class 2005-08
ICSA/Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association All American, 2001, 2002
32 First Place wins 2002 – Present
Class: Yngling, J22, J24, Beneteau, Laser, Sonar, Dinghy, SM40, Catalina 37
recognized for her versatility and consistency, both abroad and at home, after winning a string of noteworthy international events including two world championships in four different keelboat classes. Sally went on to win the coveted MVP award again in 2007 where she was quick to credit her team, "I have not sailed single-handed since 2002," she said. "I believe that teamwork is our biggest asset on the water."
Sally is currently ranked in the top 10 in the ISAS women's world match racing circuit.
"You are never given a dream without being given the power to make it true. However, you will have to work for it!"
— Richard Bach
THE YNGILING SAILING CAMPAIGNS
When Barkow and her Team7 crew Debbie Capozzi and Carrie Howe joined together after their intercollegiate racing days to campaign for the Olympic Games in the women's keelboat class, their learning curve rose rapidly. They got into the Yngling in 2003; 2004 was a building year; but by the close of 2005, these three sailors were a global force. In that year, they won the Yngling Worlds, the ISAF Women's Match Racing World Championships, and US SAILING's Rolex Miami OCR. As Barkow says: ”Experience goes a long way in sailing.”
2009
1st Korean 30
Busan Women’s Cup
Busan, Korea
2nd Sonar
Women's Match Race/Clinic
Newport, RI
5th Korea 36
Korea Match Cup Open Qualifier
Jeongok, South Korea
3rd Ultimate 20
Detroit Spring Cup, Match Race
Detroit, MI
6th Tom 28
Open De Espana Match Race-tactician
Caple, ESP
2nd Blue 26
SUI Match Race Championship, WMRT qualifier
Lake Lugano, SUI
2nd J22
Brindisi Match Race
Brindisi, Italy
2nd Benateau 7.5
Selective Bassin Atlantic Open Match Race
Quiberon, FRA
2008
15th IOD
King Edward VII Gold Cup
Hamilton, BER
2nd SM 40
Portugal Women's Match-crew
Troia, POR
7th Yngling
2008 Olympic Games
Qingdao, CHN
1st J22
Santa Maria Cup
Annapolis, MD
2nd Yngling
Hyeres Olympic Class
LHyeres, FRA
2nd Yngling
Yngling Women European Championship
Blanes, ESP
2007
USA Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year
15th IOD
King Edward VII Gold Cup
Hamilton, BER
1st SM 40
Brazil Women's Cup
Vitoria, BRA
3rd Sonar
Rolex Osprey Cup
St. Petersburg, FL
1st J22
Rolex Women's Keelboat Championship
Houston, TX
1st J22
Santa Maria Cup
Annapolis, MD
5th Yngling
Holland Regatta
Medemblick, NED
1st Yngling
Princess Sofia Olympic Class
Palma, ESP
2nd Yngling
North American Championship
Miami, FL
1st Yngling
Rolex Miami Olympic Class Regatta
Miami, FL
2006
1st Yngling
Hyeres Olympic Week
Hamilton, BER
1st Yngling
Princess Sofia Olympic Regatta
Palma, ESP
1st Yngling
US Sailing Team Rankings
1st Yngling
Miami Olympic Class Regatta
Miami, Fl
1st J22
Trentino Women's Match Cup
Lake Ledro, ITA
4th Yngling
Olympic Test Event
Qingdao, CHN
12th SM 40
Portugal Match Cup
Troia, POR
2nd SM 40
Portugal Women's Cup
Troia, POR
2nd Yngling
ISAF Sailing World Championships
Cascais, POR
2005
USA Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year
1st Yngling
US Sailing Team Rankings
1st J22
US Women's Match Race Championship
Fort Worth, TX
1st J24
Women's Match Race World Championship
Hamilton, BER
1st J22
Rolex Women's Keelboat Championship
Annapolis, MD
1st Beneteau 1st Class 8
St. Quay Women's Match Race
St. Quay, FR
1st Yngling
Yngling Women's World Championship
Mondsee, AUT
1st Yngling
Expert Olympic Garda
Garda, ITA
1st Yngling
Semaine Olympique Francaise
Hyeres, FR
1st Yngling
Rolex Miami Olympic Classes Regatta
Miami, Fl
2004 – 2002 First Place Race Record
1st/20 Yngling
Yngling Greek National Championship
Athens, GR
1st/16 J22
Women's Match Race World Championship
Annapolis, MD
1st/76 J22
Women's International Keelboat Championship
Annapolis, MD
1ST/9 Sonar
Rolex Women's Match
St. Pete, FL
1st/24
Yngling Miami Olympic Class Regatta
Key Biscayne, FL
1st/14 Laser Radial
US Pan Am Trails
Houston, TX
1st/15 Yngling
North Americans
Alpena, MI
1st/5 J/24
Area K Adams Cup Semifinals
Sheboygan, WI
1st/30 Laser
ILYA Youth Championships
Mendota, WI
1st Overall
North American Women's Dinghy Championship
Honolulu, HI
1st A Division
North American Women's Dinghy Championship
Honolulu, HI